Carer charged after police see her 'punch' elderly woman after fall

By Sarah Muller

A carer who allegedly punched and verbally abused an elderly patient in her home after she fell on the floor on Friday night has faced court.

Police witnessed the alleged assault through a rear window of the unit, after being tipped off by a member of the public around 10.45pm on Friday, according to Inspector Don Faulds, from Wollongong Police Unit.

The 81-year-old woman had fallen while walking from the bathroom through her unit on Station Street in Thirroul, south of Sydney.

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The officers alleged they saw a 28-year-old woman verbally abusing the older woman before "punching her with a closed fist to the inner thigh".

The carer, identified as Alicia Gawronski, allegedly took the elderly woman's legs "out from underneath her" as she tried to "regain her composure", making her fall on her back.

Shouting, moaning and slapping noises were also heard from outside the front of the home, police allege. They also allege they heard Gawronski say to the woman, "do it again, I dare ya".

The woman said, "I didn't do nothing", to which Gawronski allegedly replied, "you did, you slid your ass back on the seat, don't". The woman continued to make a moaning noise, with Gawronski again telling her to "stop sliding her ass back", the court documents said.

When the elderly woman said she was scared, Gawronski allegedly replied "yeah, you oughta be scared, especially where you're gunna go the nurses will beat the f--- out of you every day".

The young woman had recently become the elderly woman's carer and legal guardian and, according to police documents, has been residing with her for several months.

The elderly woman, who has dementia, allegedly had bruises and swelling to her face, as well as bruises and scratch marks on her legs.

She was taken to Woollongong Hospital for treatment, and alternative care will be arranged.

Gawronski was charged with domestic assault and elder abuse, and appeared in Wollongong Bail Court on Saturday. She was granted bail with conditions that she must not breach the AVO, reside at a separate address, and must not approach or contact the elderly woman or go to any place where she resides.

Gawronski was already on bail for damage property charges, and will appear in Wollongong Local Court on September 6 for the sentencing of both offences. This week she was also sentenced and fined for kife, weapon and drugs offences.

Inspector Faulds praised the member of the public who tipped-off police to the "disgraceful" incident.

"The officers during their investigation looked at the elderly lady's bruises... It's obviously very upsetting to see an elderly person treated in that way," he said.

"These vulnerable people need the communities help to be their voice.

"It was a member of the public who rang in and gave us information... Otherwise we may not have known about it and wouldn't have been able to assist the lady that was in trouble."